King James Daily Bible Study: A New Creature
Date: Sunday April 03, 2011
Chapters: I Samuel 8-11
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Details of Today's Reading: Israel rejects God as their king and demands an earthly king, God chooses Saul to be their king, and Saul is anointed by Samuel to be the first king of Israel.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
An amazing thing happens the second we say amen after we bow our head and ask Jesus to save us, God changes our heart. We are no longer trusting in our deeds or behavior to take us to heaven, we are trusting in our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” - II Corinthians 5:17-21.

Samuel had been judging Israel for quite some time now, he is getting old and decides to give his two sons some of the responsibility. However, these two sons fell into the lust of money and caused all kinds of problems for Israel. That's when all the elders got together, went to Samuel, and demanded that he give them a king.

“Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.” - I Samuel 8:4-9.

Since God is the Almighty God, whom is the all powerful and in control of all things, we have the tendency to forget that God has created us in His own image. Therefore, all the things that we feel, God feels them too. So, when Israel was demanding a king, God took it as a rejection. Ever have someone turn you down? It doesn't feel so good. Well, God feels the same way when we seek other means for help over Him. Now, God does not want us to sit in a corner, pray all day long, and expect Him to give us things, although He can do that, but He does want to be apart of our lives in every area of our lives, from work, to marriage, to family, and even hobbies, God wants to be involved. When we allow God to be in every area of our lives He will lead us to much greater visions than we can ever imagine. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” - Proverbs 3:5,6.

God sends Samuel to meet Saul, Saul was a young man, a Benjamite, who did not think much of himself, remember, the Benjamites were few in number because of the civil war between them and the rest of the tribes. However, God saw something in him that no one saw, not even Saul himself, a godly, faithful, honest, hard working king. Samuel took a vial of oil and anointed Saul as king and when he did something amazing happened.

“Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?.. After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.” - I Samuel 10:1,5-7.

Saul received the power of God in him the day he got anointed, he was no longer the same man, he became a new man. This is a great illustration of God anointing the believer with the blood of Christ when they ask Jesus to save them. We are no longer the same person, we are new and when we allow Christ to live in us we literally transform into a new person, a new creature. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” - Romans 12:1-3.

When you first get saved you can expect a lot of rejection from friends and family, even lose some friends, whom your thought were your best friends. When word got out that Saul was anointed as king the people did not take to kindly to it, especially after the first order given.

“And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel. Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.” - I Samuel 11:12-15.

This once despised man was now honored and respected by all, the people gladly accepted him as their king. One day, Jesus, whom the world despises, will return and when He does He will reign as King once and for all, then and only then will He be honored and respected as King. We who are saved, are the minority, the elect, the few, who honor and respect Him as our King today. Sadly, we too are despised, but we will never be put to death because salvation has been brought to all who asked Jesus to save them. When the world comes to an end and everyone is scrambling we will be safely awaiting our arrival into God's new kingdom. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” - Revelation 21:1-3. Praise God!

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Samuel who faithfully served Israel as judge, prophet, and priest. “Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.” - Matthew 12:18.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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